Upon realizing this, the Crown Prince immediately summoned He Zhu and ordered, "He Zhu, send someone to carefully investigate who the Eighth Prince has met at the Imperial Clan Court."
The poisoning of the Eighth Prince was definitely intentional. He couldn't get the poison from the Imperial Clan Court, so someone must have brought the poison into the Imperial Clan Court for him.
It seems this person is truly devoted to the Eighth Prince, even taking such a great risk to help him. He'd like to see who it is.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I will take care of it right away!"
At this moment, a young eunuch came and said that Emperor Kangxi had sent someone to invite the Crown Prince to the Qianqing Palace.
The Crown Prince knew that Kangxi was looking for him at this time because of the Eighth Prince's matter, but he did not expect that Kangxi would suspect him.
When the Crown Prince arrived at the Qianqing Palace, he knelt down and paid his respects. Kangxi then asked directly, "Are you aware that the Eighth Prince was poisoned at the Imperial Clan Court?"
The Crown Prince's heart tightened, but he remained calm and replied, "Your subject has only just learned of this matter and is just about to send someone to investigate."
Kangxi looked sharply at the Crown Prince, "Baocheng, you are my most beloved son and the Crown Prince of the Qing Dynasty whom I have carefully cultivated. No one can surpass your position in my heart."
What I most hope to see is you brothers being kind and respectful, working together to govern the Qing Dynasty and bring prosperity to the nation and peace to the people!
I know you are dissatisfied with how I handled the Eighth Prince's affairs. Although the Eighth Prince is disappointing, he is still my son!
Bao Cheng, remember this ancestral precept: "The Aisin Gioro family must not kill their brothers or sons!"
The Crown Prince looked up at Kangxi in disbelief. "Father, what does this mean? Do you suspect that I poisoned my eighth brother?"
Your son does indeed want to eliminate corrupt officials, and I understand that you are intentionally favoring your eighth brother, but he is, after all, your brother, and I will never lay a hand on him.
Did I do something that made you doubt me?
Father Emperor, I believe that even if everyone else doubts me, you alone will not.
You yourself said that you raised me single-handedly. Don't you know my temperament?
Looking at the imposing Crown Prince, Kangxi felt a little guilty and said in a low voice, "I didn't say anything. You're the one who insisted on thinking that way!"
The Crown Prince was amused by Kangxi, "You didn't say anything, but isn't that exactly what you meant?"
"No, no!" Kangxi hurriedly replied, afraid of offending the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince's aggressive demeanor had actually intimidated him, and Kangxi felt a sense of pride. "Truly worthy of being the Crown Prince I trained!"
Liang Jiugong, watching Kangxi from the side, said, "Your Majesty, why do this? Why test the Crown Prince? It's a terrible mistake!"
"Alright, I didn't call you here to blame you," Kangxi said, clearing his throat.
The Crown Prince looked at Kangxi with suspicion, thinking to himself, "Weren't you just questioning me?"
Kangxi continued, "I understand that you want the Qing Dynasty to be clean and honest in its administration, but there are no way to kill all the corrupt officials in the world."
Bao Cheng, although the Emperor is the Son of Heaven, ruling over all people, there are times when he has no choice.
"Father, the imperial examinations always select talented people for the court. The Qing Dynasty is not lacking in talent. Only by killing all these corrupt officials can we restore the people's hearts."
“Bao Cheng, water that is too clear has no fish! Even an emperor sometimes has to turn a blind eye. The reason I dealt with those corrupt officials this time is to warn them that some money cannot be touched.”
In recent years, Emperor Kangxi had become very cautious about sentencing people to death, as he did not want to jeopardize his sagacity. However, this time, those people nearly shook the Qing Dynasty's rule, and he had to be prepared to kill them.
[Didn't the Eighth Prince also touch some money he shouldn't have? And you didn't do anything to him then!]
Kangxi rubbed his hands together, then looked at the Crown Prince, "Baocheng, I have a question for you. Why do you and the Eighth Prince not get along?"
"Father, do you still doubt your son?" the Crown Prince said, his expression changing.
"No, I'm just curious. You get along well with everyone else, but you don't get along with the Eighth Prince. Is there something I don't know about?"
"Father, I can get along well with everyone, so why can't I get along with him alone? You should ask him, not me!"
Kangxi nodded, as if that made sense. "You don't know either?"
"Eighth brother thinks that I stole what belongs to him...!" The Crown Prince couldn't say He Xue out loud, so he could only use "things" as a substitute.
"What did you steal from him?" Kangxi became even more curious.
"Your subject did not steal it; it was originally yours. He was just harboring illusions!"
What could it be? The two brothers are not short of money, nor should they be short of women. The Crown Prince is not interested in women. Could it be the position of Crown Prince?
I never expected that the Eighth Prince would have such wolfish ambitions. How dare a mere son of Xin Zheku covet the position of Crown Prince?
The Crown Prince is still too concerned about brotherly affection; even at this point, he's still covering for the Eighth Prince. Kangxi imagined this himself.
"Alright, I understand. I will handle the matter of the Eighth Prince!" Kangxi said.
"Yes, Your Majesty, I take my leave!" The Crown Prince looked at Kangxi's suddenly gloomy face, not knowing what Kangxi was thinking. As long as it was none of his business, he didn't need to care. Anyway, he didn't say anything.
After leaving the Qianqing Palace, the Crown Prince's face darkened. The reason Kangxi suspected him was probably because someone had said something to him, but it seemed Kangxi still trusted him; he was determined to find out the truth about the Eighth Prince's poisoning.
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